Health Insurance Mandate Sets Dangerous Precedent

Under the new healthcare law, every American is required to purchase health insurance, even if they do not wish to do so. The individual mandate, set to go into effect in January 2014, sets a dangerous precedent where the federal government can dictate and control the lives of Americans by forcing them to buy products, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. Enzi believes it is critically important to curb this new government power and is cosponsoring legislation to repeal the individual health care mandate.

The American Liberty Restoration Act was introduced this week by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. It would strike the individual mandate and its associated penalties from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"We should not be forcing Americans to purchase any product, let alone health insurance," said Enzi. "Mandates are built on the premise that government knows best and that a one-size-fits-all approach will somehow address the various needs of our very different states, cities, and populations. We can and must make health care more affordable in this country but we can do it by working together and not threatening people with penalties if they do not purchase insurance."

In the 112th Congress, the American Liberty Restoration Act bill had 30 cosponsors, including Enzi.